Steering tie rod end

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to means to absorb or to reduce in a significant way the vibrations in all the senses except in that of operation of the tie rod end for steering systems avoiding fractures provoked by vibration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Tie rod ends for steering systems of motor vehicles are already known. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,784, granted in Jun. 14, 1977, to William D. Allison and with title Preloaded tie rod end assembly” (Pre loaded tie rod end structure); the U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,361 granted in Nov. 22, 1977 to William D. Allison, with title Tie rod end”; the U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,859, granted in Jul. 31, 1979 to Loyd O. McAfee with title Vehicle steering knuckle arm angle compensator”, and the U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,160, granted in Nov. 19, 1991 to Lloyd O. McAfee with title Ball joint” (spherical articulation) as samples of the most recent registers related to these parts. None of these patents address the problem which this invention solves.

[0002] It is known that vibration affects tie rod ends and that it is transmitted to the tube. In some extreme cases, it provokes the tie rod assembly to fracture. General specifications for tie rod ends exist (e. SAE J193) and most of the current systems meet them. However, fractures of the tie rod assemblies have been reported recently and their catastrophic consequences make imperious the necessity to solve this problem, and there are no existing references that outline an intent to solve it. These fractures are the result of vibrations whose causes have not been clearly determined but may be related to braking, suspension systems or road conditions. However the present invention has the objective of absorbing these vibrations to avoid the fractures of the tie rod assemblies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this, the present invention provides means to absorb or to reduce in a significant way the vibrations in all directions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The novel characteristics of this invention as well as the invention itself, will be better understood through the attached drawings and their description:

[0004] The FIG. 1 is a lateral view of the novel tie rod end;

[0005] The FIG. 2 is a superior view of the novel tie rod end;

[0006] The FIG. 3 is a view in superior perspective of the novel tie rod end; and

[0007] The FIG. 4 is a view in inferior perspective of the novel tie rod end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY

[0008]FIG. 1 shows the construction of the novel tie rod end (10). The tie rod end for steering system (10) has a cross link axis (12), a socket (14) and a ball stud (24). The external faces of the bearings (30 a and 30 b) are received in their respective flats of the socket (14). Both are perpendicular to the cross link axis (12).

[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two bearing receiving flats of the socket (14) are bigger than the bearings (30 a and 30 b) to allow their movement inside the socket (14) and compensate the vibration components (c-c′ and B-B′ in FIG. 3) avoiding an undesired movement in the functional direction for tie rod ends (A-A′ in FIG. 2)allowing a proper load transmition through the cross link.

[0010] Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, both bearings (30 a and 30 b) are identical and their interior faces are semi-spherical providing a complete contact with sphere (26) of ball stud (24).

[0011]FIG. 3 shows orthogonal axis A-A′, B-B′, and C-C′.

[0012] A-A′ represents work load while the vibration components B-B′and C-C′are compensated by the movement of the bearings (30 a and 30 b).

[0013]FIG. 4 shows the functional movements of a tie rod end which are intact in this invention:

[0014] AB: longitudinal oscillation of ball stud.

[0015] AC: Ball stud turn in its own axis.

[0016] CB: transversal oscillation of ball stud.

[0017] In order to reach a complete understanding of this invention, the other components of conventional tie rod ends have been intentionally omitted.

[0018] While the novel tie rod end as described in this document is absolutely able to reach the established objectives, it must be understood that it is strictly illustrative to the currently preferred modalities and no limitations to the construction or design details are sought as described in the attached recoveries. 

1. Improvements to tie rod ends for steering systems consisting on a socket that keeps a ball stud. Improvements are characterized because two lodging means are provided inside the socket, both lodging means are perpendicular with regard to the axis of the cross link opposed to each other; the lodging means receive respective bearings of smaller size in the normal plane to the axis of cross link. The smaller size of the bearings allow a movement inside the socket which neutralizes the vibration components from the system; the interior face of the bearing means is semi-spherical to provide a complete contact with ball stud sphere.
 2. Improvements to tie rod end conforming with recovery 1, characterized because lodging means consist on plane surfaces. 